Microsoft Defender is having a hard time dealing with cyber criminals as they get stronger

A few months back, tech giant Microsoft announced an improved Microsoft Defender for its users. The main idea behind this service was to provide a much stronger and safer experience for the Microsoft family.

The Defender would offer tips and suggestions. It would update a device's security from time to time. However, according to a survey conducted by a famous software company, Avanan, Defender is having a hard time defending its name as cybercriminals keep getting their hands on user data through different means.

Avanan studied over 3 million emails in a single week and discovered that almost 18.8% of the emails were able to bypass Microsoft Defender. The software company believes that the reason behind this figure could be due to criminals getting their game strong.

As explained by Avanan, the attackers first ensure that they can bypass the defender. This is done with the help of test attacks before throwing the main attack on the victim. In a nutshell, these test attacks teach hackers how to get around the Defender without actually confronting it one-on-one.

This is why it is wrong to say that Defender is getting weak, as it is the cybercriminals who are leveling up their game by getting faster and better by finding alternative methods that can get them access to the victims' inboxes.

According to the survey report, attacks have started to become more frequent ever since COVID-19 made its entry, leading to a global lockdown. The emails through which phishers are reaching their victims are complex and elusive.

Emails claiming refunds or fake purchases that can lure the victim in and make them visit the attached links, leading them directly into the attacker's trap, are getting more frequent.

Overviewing malicious emails or emails that are expected to be spam is now affecting the working hours of several companies. According to Avanan, sorting out emails has consumed over 23% of the working hours. Similarly, another firm reported that they spent almost 104 days in a year analyzing spam or what they expected to be malicious emails. As a result, companies face difficulties in dealing with other important matters.

Read next: What’s the Most Dangerous Malware of the Year? These Researchers Reveal the Answer
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

YouTube’s Biggest Star Outlines The Steps He Takes To Ensure His Viral Success

If you happen to be a fan of the app YouTube and wondered what it takes to ensure viral success and great earnings, this might be your lucky day.

MrBeast is undoubtedly the app’s biggest content creator and he’s got a massive fan following of nearly 105 million subscribers. People simply can’t get enough of him and the app couldn’t be more grateful for the sort of engagement he brings forward with his content.

But really what is it that has people in awe? How does he really drive those views? Thankfully, we were able to grab a hold of his golden tips at this year’s famous VidSummit conference. And that’s where he really went deep into the strategy or master plan at stake.

The man who many call MrBeast is actually named Jimmy Donaldson and currently, he’s ranked as the top performer on the app. Moreover, he’s got a good 19 types of channels on the app that really are diverse in terms of their theme.

Think along the lines of gaming and charity work to content that’s featured in all sorts of languages like Japanese, French, and Spanish too. His main channel features a couple of viral videos that revolve around popular themes.

For instance, the video that shows him making an attempt at recreating the famous Squid Game challenge managed to receive about 290 million views. And then there’s a video featuring him trying to be buried alive. This one got about 195 million views. Lastly, there’s a video featuring him spending almost 50 long hours in a solitary location. This received up to 194 million views.

So as you can see, there’s plenty of variety for everyone out there. But how exactly did he receive this category of success is a question on so many people’s minds.

See, it’s not just the type of theme in question that has people coming back for more. It’s state-of-the-art imagery and captivating video content.

Speaking at the conference, MrBeast shed light on his strategy of using iconic thumbnails which really is something that his backend team can’t get enough of. It’s like they’re obsessed on a whole new level.

On the other hand, in terms of what is done when they’re not performing too well, and if changing thumbnails of videos actually makes a difference were some other topics worth a discussion.

This is the point where MrBeast says that many people are already aware that when the clicks and views aren’t coming in at the pace that you’d like to witness, it’s time to alter the strategy. And changing thumbnails is a great way to move ahead. Obviously, the more clicks you get, the better the CTR and the more revenue generated.

However, there are definitely some individuals out there that may take that on a little too aggressively. They may be swapping up thumbnails by the hour and that’s not ok. You must learn to provide a little time for the video to perform.

As far as their exact strategy is concerned, they’re willing to wait for nearly seven days before they consider putting up a video and trying out a new thumbnail, in case the clicks are lower than expected. However, he did feel that was not the only cure for the issue.

There are some not-so-great days where the idea in your mind isn’t executed well at all or it’s not planned well. MrBeast claims that he and his team really sit down and draw out a strategy regarding the thumbnail before they put out a video.

During the conference, the host put up an example of how the creator actually sent his team 20 different thumbnail types for his content. They were all discussed in detail before actually making the final decision. It’s like playing around with it and asking friends and acquaintances which one they feel is the best. The majority wins but he says not everyone needs to go to such extremes and be so obsessive over the factor.

So it’s clear that a great thumbnail goes a long way, not to mention the emphasis on clear focus, and bright hues that just make things so attractive. And in terms of being the center of attention, the creator likes to be it.

H/T: Insider.

Read next: YouTube will now let multiple shops be linked while allowing users with channel membership to control their received notifications
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Here’s How Easy It is To Scam People on the App Store

Apple is often criticized for not allowing third party stores to offer apps to its users because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up giving its own App Store an artificial boost due to the anti competitive nature of this practice. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the Cupertino based tech juggernaut often says that allowing third party stores would constitute a risk to user safety.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that a developer by the name of Kosta Eleftheriou often tries to poke holes in Apple’s assertions. His latest attempt to do this involved showing how easy it was to scam someone through the App Store. There are four steps that are involved with all things having been considered and taken into account.

The first step is to make a standard, run of the mill app which anyone can do with a bit of basic research. Following this, the scammer needs to invest in some ratings that are not legitimate so that the rating of the app can exceed 4.5 stars out of a maximum of 5. Scammers can then offer a free trial that is unnecessarily hard to cancel and charge up to $8 per week, and the victims of their scams might not even realize that the money is leaving their bank account until it is too late.

App Store scams are easy & profitable:

1. Make a basic app
2. Buy enough fake ratings, ideally > 4.5 stars
3. Charge $8/week after a hard-to-cancel free trial
4. Advertise on social media
5.🤑 pic.twitter.com/m9KkSkx0Ca

— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) October 3, 2022

"Curated by experts." pic.twitter.com/IExDyXrCoQ

— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) October 3, 2022

Eleftheriou didn’t just outline these steps at random. Rather, he showed a real app that is available on the store called Fax from iPhone that is doing just what he has described. This app has over 1,600 ratings and it has 4.7 stars, but the actual reviews are all 1 stars and they describe a very poor experience. That just goes to show that the App Store is not the secure and scam free environment that Apple suggest it is. Rather, it is just as insecure, so this excuse for not allowing third party stores doesn’t seem to hold all that much water.

Read next: New Study Proves Consumers Would Rather Stay In Jail Than Receive Customer Support
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

6 Vital Assets to Improve Your Online Store's Digital Presence

Like most business owners, you know that having an online presence is essential. A recent study found that 95% of consumers now use the internet to research products and services before making a purchase.

But many business owners don't realize that having a robust online presence isn't just about having a website. It's about creating an online experience that engages and converts your visitors into customers.

And there are several things you can do to improve your online store's presence and drive more sales.

1. Optimize Your Website Design

Creating a high-converting website is essential to succeed in today's digital landscape. It would help to keep a few key things in mind when designing your website for conversions.

First, your site needs to be easy to navigate. Potential customers should be able to find what they're looking for quickly and easily. If your site is challenging to navigate, people will likely leave without taking any action.

Second, you should go for a website design with a solid design and attention grabbing call to actions. Your call to action is what tells visitors what you want them to do next. It should be clear, concise, and persuasive. Without a solid call to action, people may not know what you want them to do on your site.

Third, you should optimize your site for mobile. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to access the internet. If you don't optimize your site for mobile, you're likely losing out on many potential businesses. Make sure your site looks great and functions well on all devices.

Finally, you should design your site with SEO in mind. Search engine optimization is how you make sure your site appears on search engine results pages. When people search for keywords related to your business, you want your site to come up first.

2. High-Quality Product Images

Product images are one of the essential elements of an eCommerce website. 67% of consumers say that the quality of a product image is a vital deciding factor when purchasing online.

So, you want to invest in high-quality product photos to improve your online presence, showing your products in their best light. You may also consider using video to showcase your products in action.

Product videos can be beneficial in showing customers how your products work and can also help to build trust with potential customers. If you don't have the budget to produce professional videos, there are several ways to create DIY product videos that are both effective and low-cost.

3. Compelling Product Descriptions

In addition to having high-quality product images, it's also essential to have compelling product descriptions. Your product descriptions should be clear and concise, highlighting the features and benefits of your products.

Use keywords throughout your descriptions so that search engines can easily find your products. When writing your product descriptions, keep your target audience in mind.

Write in a way that will appeal to them, and be sure to address any questions or concerns they may have. Your goal is to convince them that your product is what they need, so make sure your descriptions are convincing.

If you're unsure how to write compelling product descriptions, plenty of resources are available to help you. Books, articles, and even online courses can teach copywriting basics. Once you understand the basics, writing descriptions that sell will be much easier.

4. Customer Reviews and Testimonials

If you want to build trust with potential customers, one of the best things you can do is showcase customer reviews and testimonials on your website. In fact, 88% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

If you don't have any customer reviews or testimonials yet, consider reaching out to some of your most satisfied customers and asking them to write a review for your website.

Make sure to showcase your customer reviews and testimonials prominently on your website, preferably on your homepage or on a dedicated page created for this purpose. You can also highlight customer reviews in specific product pages or blog posts to give readers additional social proof that your products or services are high quality and worth their investment.

5. A Blog

A blog is a great way to improve your online presence and drive traffic to your website. Be sure to write quality, informative articles relevant to your target audience. You should also promote your blog posts on social media and other channels.

In addition to driving traffic to your website, a blog can also help you build trust and credibility with potential customers.

6. Social Media

Social media is another excellent way to improve your online presence and reach more potential customers. Make sure you have an active presence on the social media channels that are most relevant to your business.

Post engaging content regularly, and be sure to interact with your followers. You may also want to run social media ads to reach even more people.

Wrapping Up

If you're looking for ways to improve your online presence and drive more traffic to your website, consider using these tips. By investing in high-quality product photos, writing compelling product descriptions, showcasing customer reviews and testimonials, and having an active blog and social media presence, you'll be able to reach more potential customers and increase sales.
by Web Desk via Digital Information World

Meta Files Lawsuit Against Chinese Firms For Stealing More Than One Million WhatsApp Accounts

Meta is not happy with a series of developers hailing from Chinese firms. These include the likes of HeyWhatsApp, HeyMods, and also Highlight Mobi.

According to the tech giant, the firms have been busy stealing over one million user accounts on WhatsApp, starting from May of this year.

Meta’s complaint mentioned how such malicious applications were now present for downloads via places like the Google Play Store and APKSFree platforms.

After getting installed, these apps make use of bundled malware to get sensitive details such as account authentication. This is further used for account hijacking through accounts on the app so they can send malice-filled texts and more spam.

Meta’s legal proceedings mentioned how so many of these apps were now up for grabs thanks to the defendants who programmed such evil offerings to gain their own benefits. They can communicate various types of sensitive details to computers and take account keys and other authentication details to gain information.

Some of these apps have been installed in the thousands category and you can imagine how much damage has already been done in terms of account theft.

A recently discovered warning was sent out in this regard by the head of the Whatsapp Group. He warned all users to steer clear of such behavior and never download modified versions of this application.

• Also read: Study shows steps taken by teens in response to rising security and privacy concerns

Security teams were seen discovering various forms of malware located inside the app and also on the Play Store. The applications make false promises that are so deceiving. It’s like a never-ending scam that’s designed to take personal information from a user’s phone and now, a lot of effort is being put out to eliminate the threat, the company claims.

In July, we also saw the Play Protect venture by Android’s Google was seen detecting and disabling all types of malware-filled fake types of WhatsApp on users’ phones. This was moments after Meta sent out the alert to Google regarding its findings.

To eliminate any further harm, Meta has opted to take complete legal action against HeyMods while exploring different legal options so they and others can be held accountable.

A chunk of the complaint is linked to how such malicious apps began stealing details so they could hijack users’ accounts. But Meta is now using legal action to sue all three firms for breaching its contract and the developer agreement.

Read next: WhatsApp is rolling out a subscription plan for business accounts
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Meta Severely Criticized After Its ‘Horizon Worlds’ VR App Suffers Major Quality Issues

Meta has been in the line of fire recently after so many users began to criticize its much anticipated VR app for the Metaverse called Horizon Worlds.

A lot of the complaints had to do with poor quality issues and how it failed to meet the standards outlined on day one.

Some called it sluggish while others felt that most employees of the firm couldn’t even be bothered to use it.

The news comes after the details were outlined in a new internal memo that The Verge managed to get its hands on.

One employee stated great concern as he and his team would be stuck in a quality lockdown until and unless all the gaps and issues related to quality are fixed. And it makes sense, not to mention how it’s very sensible because expanding the app to outside users means setting the bar high and with such complaints, you can imagine what can happen.

In case you didn’t know, the Horizon Worlds application lets users create and engage in a virtual manner where you’re working as a legless avatar. It’s kind of like combining the worlds of Minecraft with Roblox.

Many saw this as a key project that was required when Facebook decided to rebrand as Meta. And in case you haven’t heard for the 100th time, the firm is spending a lot of time, money, and effort on the metaverse. They’re calling it the future of tomorrow and we do understand why.

• Also read: How Are People Viewing Tech Changes In Today’s Time? Meta Shares Its Valuable Insights

Last year, we got more insight after it was added to the firm’s Quest headset and during the early part of 2022, the user count hit nearly 300,000. Soon, it’s going to be making its way to smart devices and desktops too, thanks to an innovative web version.

In the memo, the Meta Executive says that it’s a social network that was designed to engage greatly in today’s world. But they’re still waiting for more positive criticism from other team members because the bugs and issues are plenty. Did we mention how it’s still having trouble in terms of stability too?

So far, the graphics for the app are falling extremely short of people’s expectations and even the CEO’s image with his avatar has been turned into a meme. But Zuckerberg promised there’s a lot more to offer and the metaverse shouldn’t be judged on a simple avatar’s experience.

More details related to the app and the metaverse, in general, are going to be released on October 11. This is when the firm’s Connect conference will be held, showcasing various products and their details. Keeping that aside, the fact that people inside Meta are not using the app much is definitely worrisome. After all, if the makers aren’t loving the product, we can only wonder how the rest of the public would behave.

Meanwhile, a follow memo showed how so many employees didn’t wish to use the app frequently and it’s concerning. The executive did hope that people would fall in love but that’s clearly not happening.

His advice to fellow colleagues was to make time and really make it happen. See where the lackings are and how they can be improved.

Some of the issues highlighted so far were related to the onboarding experience. This was deemed confusing and very frustrating for a lot of people.

The advice provided included the introduction of new users at top-notch worlds. This will guarantee that the success on the first visit is great. So the solution means better collaboration and more unity with open minds for more changes to arrive.

Read next: Despite Record-Breaking Sales, Facebook’s UK Operations Pays Around 30 Million In Corporation Tax
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

What Makes Social Media Posts Go Viral?

People spend around three hours on social media on average, but the type of attention that they give to various posts is not always consistent. Some posts tend to go viral whilst others get ignored, and researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently tried to figure out what factors go into virality with all things having been considered and taken into account. They highlighted a principle that they are calling value based reality, and it may be the biggest influence on which posts go viral.

The reasons behind why people use social media are quite diverse, with some using the platforms to connect with loved ones, others trying to look for entertainment and others still attempting to become better informed than might have been the case otherwise. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that these factors can be used to stem the spread of misinformation as well as spread vital details about how people can protect themselves from pandemics as well as geopolitical strife.

The study involved around 3,000 participants who were asked to look at various headlines and posts on social media. After looking at these posts and headlines, the participants filled out a survey that asked them to rate the likelihood of them sharing any of these pieces of content or articles. It turns out that the single biggest influencer that can entice people into sharing a post is relevance. People are just more likely to share something that shares their views, so relevancy is an important factor that can drive up social media engagement.

Social media marketers put a lot of stock into social media virality, but they won’t be able to get the right level of engagement if the posts are not relevant to their audience. Brands must start to post things that their consumers can relate to, otherwise there would be only a very small chance that these posts will get shared with a wider audience.

Personal relevance is not the only factor at play here either. Social relevance is also a major concern, and that means that people with liberal viewpoints would be more likely to share posts that support their ideologies, and the same goes for people at the other end of the political spectrum as well.

Another aspect of this research involved analyzing the changes in brain chemistry that occurred while a post was being shared. Participants were hooked up to MRI machines that scanned their brains, and one thing that was discovered during these tests is that sharing relevant posts ignited the reward centers in the brains of all participating users.

Users share posts because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up releasing serotonin and dopamine within their brains. Marketers and government institutions can use this knowledge to try to design posts accordingly. A properly engineered social media post would be bound to get shared, since users have an incentive to do so in the form of their brain activity.

Activating the reward center is a major reason why social media is so popular. Posts that use the same approach will definitely get shared a lot.

Illustration: Pikisuperstar/Freepik

Read next: This New Study Proves The Unbelievable Cost Linked To Worldwide Internet Outages
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World